Women claim police abuse and cover-up in lawsuit

GLN IN THE PRESS

Women claim police abuse and cover-up in lawsuit

By Emma Graves Fitzsimmons | Tribune staff reporter

7:55 PM CDT, September 27, 2007 - LINK with VIDEO

An off-duty Chicago police officer beat three women in a road-rage hate crime, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday.

Two Illinois state troopers helped cover up the incident by charging the women and not thoroughly investigating the case, a lawyer for the women said at a news conference Thursday morning.

"This case is just another example of the corruption, cover-up and brutality that is festering inside the Chicago Police Department," said attorney Dana Kurtz.

The women were heading home from Chicago's gay pride parade on June 24 when the officer ran them off Interstate Highway 55 because the driver honked at him for driving slowly, Kurtz said. The off-duty officer, William Szura, assaulted the women, using degrading slurs because of their sexual orientation, she said.

The 10-item lawsuit also names State Troopers Martin Miloslavich and Gabriel Aragones and accuses the officers of a hate crime, false arrest, excessive force and conspiracy for the "code of silence" in reporting instances of police misconduct.

The plaintiffs, Kelly Fuery, Debra Sciortino and Nicole Tomaskovic, were charged with battery.

Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond said the incident is being investigated by the Office of Professional Standards.

efitzsimmons@tribune.com

Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

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